'Poor Quality Kimchi Suspicion' Kim Sun-ja, CEO of Hanseong Foods, Loses Food Artisan Designation

'Defective Kimchi Allegations' Kim Sun-ja, CEO of Hanseong Foods, Loses Food Artisan Designation

Kim Sun-ja, CEO of Hanseong Food

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] The government has revoked the food master certification of Kim Soon-ja, CEO of Hanseong Food, who has sparked controversy after a video showing kimchi being made with discolored napa cabbage and moldy radishes was released.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 4th that it decided to cancel Kim's food master certification at the Food Industry Promotion Deliberation Committee held on the 28th of last month. Since the introduction of the food master certification system in 1994, Kim is the first person to have their certification revoked by the ministry.

Previously, Hanseong Food faced controversy after a video was released showing the use of discolored napa cabbage and moldy radishes at a factory operated by its subsidiary, Hyowon. In particular, Kim, who was designated as Food Master No. 29 (Kimchi Master No. 1) by the government in 2007, faced strong public criticism.

After issuing an apology statement in Kim's name, Hanseong Food closed the implicated factory and suspended operations at its remaining three directly managed factories, but calls for revoking Kim's master certification continued.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, on the 25th of last month, Kim expressed her intention to voluntarily return her food master certification, stating that she had failed to fulfill her social responsibilities as a master.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.